The state government recently issued a revised posting order to allow around 800 students to dwell closer to local hospitals for the District Residency Programme (DRP), in response to the housing challenges experienced by postgraduate (PG) medical students serving in distant parts of Telangana.

Accommodation was a big problem for the PG students because the hospitals were far from their parent hospital, where they were enrolled. The accommodation concerns of all 800 students have been taken into account, as promised by the Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy, and a new location has been supplied in the order released on Thursday.

A senior health department official informed TOI, “We have reassigned all 800 students after the PG senior students represented their difficulties. Additionally, we have not closed the door on reallocation for additional students who could experience housing issues.

The government has been attempting to improve medical education standards and get students ready for difficulties. The government has assigned 800 PG students to Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad hospitals and medical institutes in the districts in order to prepare them and provide specialized services in rural areas.

Prior to going on strike, junior doctors in government hospitals in Telangana demanded better accommodations and facilities for PG students attending DRP. They were led in this demand by members of the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA). Along with clearing pending stipends for February and March, the protesters wanted a written promise that stipends will be reimbursed by the 10th of each month and a 15% increase in stipends.

Dr. Reddy called a meeting in response to their demands and promised the doctors that their requests would be fulfilled quickly. A different hospital close to parent hospitals would receive the first batch of the DRP in order to offer adequate lodging, safety, and dining options.

Some postgraduate students from Kakatiya Medical College were originally sent to Mahbubnagar, but after making a request, they were moved to Narsampet. Similar to this, several Osmania Medical College students were transferred to nearby hospitals in Nampally. while those from Gandhi Hospital have been sent to Kondapur and Malkajgiri, Malakpet, King Koti, and Patancheru.

The Health Secretary had pledged that the government will offer accommodation and food to PG students delivering services in district hospitals in compliance with NMC norms, but the concerned district hospital superintendents have allegedly refused to provide those facilities. The government’s most recent action is anticipated to fix the housing problems, ensure that PG students can concentrate on their studies, and deliver high-quality medical care in remote places.